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academic

What does the word academic mean? Here on usingenglish.com, one has the options to register as:

* Student or learner
* English teacher
* Academic
* Other

To my understanding academic here means a person related to the English language at college level or higher, is that right?
For example someone who studies English at any university, or English Literature in general, or anything related to linguistic would be an academic, correct? And also college professors and teachers of English as well as linguistic researchers.
Someone could be an academic here regardless of being a native speaker, I guess.

What do you say about my interpretation above regard the word academic ?
Do you agree?

P.S.: Feel free to correct any possible mistakes of mine on this post.

Re: academic

This was discussed recently, but here goes again. To me "Academic" indicates either someone teaching at tertiary level, or someone who is carrying out research, either practical or esoteric, within a recognised academic institution such as a university.

Someone who is studying a subject in order to acquire a degree is a Student.

Re: academic

Originally Posted by Anglika

This was discussed recently, but here goes again. To me "Academic" indicates either someone teaching at tertiary level, or someone who is carrying out research, either practical or esoteric, within a recognised academic institution such as a university.

Someone who is studying a subject in order to acquire a degree is a Student.

That's true as far as definitions in general go. But in this specific case, "student" means, to me, a learner of English rather than someone who is confident that their replies are correct.
That is, there must be some reason for having these profiles attached to one's post. An academic, using Anglika's definition, who speaks very little English would be best to tick "student or learner". Of course, the best teachers and academics are also students and learners at the same time.

In an ESL situation people want to know (I assume, from the profile requirement) what qualifications or experience does this person have to answer my question?; how likely are they to be right?, etc. Otherwise, why have a profile?

Re: academic

Thanks for your answers.
I just would like to point that by the word college I meant university (or tertiary level as Anglika says).

Originally Posted by ymnisky

To my understanding academic here means a person related to the English language at college level or higher, is that right?
For example someone who studies English at any university, or English Literature in general, or anything related to linguistic would be an academic, correct? And also college professors and teachers of English as well as linguistic researchers.
.

Re: academic

Originally Posted by konungursvia

You don't need to unite them, just search for existing threads before starting a second one.

Ok, I'll do it. Sorry once more.
But if it is really not possible to unite such threads, may it be a suggestion
for the admistrative staff. Not only about the presene thread, but surely
situations like this happen all the time.